1月24日，《自然·通讯》上发表了一项研究表明，东京大学医学研究所的专家已发现甲型H1N1流感病毒的基因结构，有望以此为基础，开发遏制这一病毒增殖的新疗法。
该报告指出，研究人员利用电子显微镜，观察了利用狗细胞增殖的甲型H1N1流感病毒的基因立体结构。结果发现，在这种病毒内的1个棒状基因周围，共有7个基因环绕，每个基因之间都由绳状物质相连，形成一个复合体。
研究小组认为，这些绳状物质就是核糖核酸(RNA)。领导这项研究的东京大学副教授野田岳志说，那些绳状物质对于抗病毒药物来说是“绝好的靶子”。
甲型H1N1流感病毒引起的疫情曾在2009年集中暴发，一年后，世界卫生组织发布的数据显示，这一疫情在全球造成超过1.8万人死亡。目前各个国家和地区主要使用世卫组织建议的达菲等抗病毒药物对感染者进行治疗。(生物谷 Bioon.com)
doi:10.1038/ncomms1647
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Three-dimensional analysis of ribonucleoprotein complexes in influenza A virus
Takeshi Noda, Yukihiko Sugita, Kazuhiro Aoyama,Ai Hirase, Eiryo Kawakami,Atsuo Miyazawa, Hiroshi Sagara & Yoshihiro Kawaoka
The influenza A virus genome consists of eight single-stranded negative-sense RNA (vRNA) segments. Although genome segmentation provides advantages such as genetic reassortment, which contributes to the emergence of novel strains with pandemic potential, it complicates the genome packaging of progeny virions. Here we elucidate, using electron tomography, the three-dimensional structure of ribonucleoprotein complexes (RNPs) within progeny virions. Each virion is packed with eight well-organized RNPs that possess rod-like structures of different lengths. Multiple interactions are found among the RNPs. The position of the eight RNPs is not consistent among virions, but a pattern suggests the existence of a specific mechanism for assembly of these RNPs. Analyses of budding progeny virions suggest two independent roles for the viral spike proteins: RNP association on the plasma membrane and the subsequent formation of the virion shell. Our data provide further insights into the mechanisms responsible for segmented-genome packaging into virions.
